Quick-connect coupler for bucket on excavating machine

ABSTRACT

A quick-connect coupling means for effecting a rapid change over from a one size bucket to a different size bucket on the dipper stick of an excavating machine such as a backhoe, or the like, comprising a pair of superimposable complementary parts hookedly engageable, and lockable by means of a lock bar operatively movable laterally of said coupling means.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Damian M. Heimmermann Greeuville,Wis. (108 Ridgeway Drive, Rte. 1, Appleton, Wis., 54911) [21 Appl. No.785,943 [22] Filed Dec. 23, 1968 [4S] Patented Jan. 19, 1971 [54]QUICK-CONNECT COUPLER FOR BUCKET ON EXCAVATING MACHINE 5 Claims, 10Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 214/145, 2 14/ l 3 8 [51] Int. Cl E021 3/81 [50]FieldofSearch 214/145,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,963,183 12/1960 PrzybylskiPrimary Examinerl-lugo 0. Schulz Attorney-Stanley E. Binish ABSTRACT: Aquick-connect coupling means for effecting a rapid change over from aone size bucket to a different size bucket on the dipper stick of anexcavating machine such as a backhoe, or the like, comprising a pair ofsuperimposable complementary parts hookedly engageable, and lockable bymeans of a lock bar operatively movable laterally of said couplingmeans.

designate like parts throughout .wherein:

taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 1';

reluctant to do so because of the prolonged time and difficulty involvedin atta'chingand detaching'buckets coupled to the dipper stick ,by theconventional pin coupling means. Many of such conventional couplingmeans requirebruised pins to be driven out,and bores to be patientlyaligned. The present invention provides coupling means whe reby a bucketcan be changed quickly and easily, there being no .pins to be driven,

no bores to be aligned, and the operator can initially seat and mate thecomplementary parts of the coupling from his station at the operatingcontrols of the excavating machine. 1

Somecharacteristic features of this invention are the provision ofcoupler means, for coupling an excavating bucket to the dipper stick of.an excavatingmach'ine, comprising a pair of superimposable and hookedly'engageable mating parts mounted on. said'bucket and dipperstickytheprovision of coupling means for detachably securing an excavating bucketY to the dipper stick of anexcavating machine. and locking said couplingmeans by ,me ans of a lock bar operatively movable laterally of saidcoupling means; and the provision of coupling means mounted on thedipper stick of an excavating machine,

said saddle and yoke means being detachably engaged by means of a lockbar. operatively movable sidewise and laterally of said coupling means.

. 2 A control link '15 is pivotally mounted at one end on ram pin 13'.Said control link 15 comprises an intermediate I-l-section "memberhaving sleeve bearings such as indicated at l5'- welded on each endthereof to receive yoke pin 18 therethrough. I v

A frame or yoke means, generally indicated at l6, ,'is pivotally mountedat its rearward end to the end portion of the dipper stick, by means oftransverse pin 17. The forward end portion of the yoke means ispivotally mounted to the free end of control line 15 by means of pin I8.Normally,' saidyoke means is disposed at right angle to said dipperstick, and is pivotal upwardly and downwardly therefrom, about pin 17,by means of ram 1'1 and control link 15. V

Said yoke means comprises a p'aii'of parallel side links. I9 and:2ldisposed on opposite sides of the dipper stick l0 and of the controllink 1 15, and are" pivotally connected to the aforesaid yoke pins 17and 18, respectively.

Yoke pin 17 extends transversely through the end portion of the dipperstick and extends beyond the sides thereof to pivotally engage the sidelinks 19 and 21 adjacent thereto, and extends further therebeyond intoand through collar trunnions 22 and 23 mounted on the outside facesofsaid side links as by welding. Obviously, said collar trunnionsrnay bemounted on 2 meanscomprising saddle means on an excavating bucket forhookedly .receivingyfrom: above, a complementary yoke Other specificfeatures and many of .the attendant adaccompanying drawingsin which likereference numerals the FIGS. thereof and vantages of thisinventio'n willbe readily'appreciated as the a same becomes better understood byreference to the following detailed description when consideredinconnection with the said pin as'an enlargement or journal thereof, inlieu of being 'mo'untedon saidlinks. In the alternative. said pin may beof a larger more suitable diameter.

' I Yoke pin 18, parallel to yoke pin 17, islikewise extended topivotally-engage the other ends of said side links 19 and 21,

and further extended into and throughcollar trunnions 24 and 25 mountedon the outside faces of said side links as by weldmay be of alarger moresuitable diameter. V V

'I'riangular'cross-brace means 26' is welded across the side links 19and 2l,'intennediate the ends thereof, to strengthen and providerigidity to the yoke structure.

FIG. I .is a side elevation view of the present invention showing thedipper stickand attached. yoke poised above the yoke means in the saddlemeans;

- FIG. 2' is a side elevation view showing declined relative to thesaddle, and the lower forward portion of the yoke being received in theforward hook portion of the saddle; J FIG. '3 is a side-elevationview-showing the horizontally disposed yoke fully seated in the saddle,fore and aft; r FIG. 4is a plan view of the bucket and saddle taken online 4-4of'FIG. I;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary front elevation view of the bucket and saddletaken on line 5-5 of FIG. I;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary section view of the yoke onthe dipper sticktaken on line 6-6 of FIG; I, and showing a lock bar space relatedthereto;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary front elevation view of theyoke FIG. 8 is a planview taken on line of FIG. 3, and showing the inclusion of the lockbarsecuring'the yoke to the sad- H i FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectionview taken on line 99 of several views, there is shown inFIG. I a dipperstick '10 of an excavating machine'such as a back hoe, not shown. Whilethe present invention is applicable to excavating machines of the vbucket type generally, the following describes its application the yokedisposed bucket and saddle thereon in readinessfor the seating of the Toengageably receive said frame or yoke I6, there is pro vided, on thetopplate 27 of associated excavating bucket 28, a twin'saddle meansgenerally indicated at'29;

Said saddle means comprises a pair of upstanding parallel runner orsaddle shaped elements 31 and 32 secured to the top plate 27 of bucket28 as by welding. Said saddle elements are substantially identical insize and shape and are oppositely disposed and 'spaced to receive theside plates 19 and 21 of yoke 16, nested adjacently therebetween in aworking fit.

Said runners or .saddle 3 elements. comprise elongatedv horizontalbarlike central body portions 33 and 34, see FIGS. 1, 2 and 9, havingupwardly bent-back, hooked or recurved head end portions 35 and 36 asextensions of said barlike central body portions, to snugly receive andseat said journals or collar trunnions 22 and 23 in said book ends orcradles respectively. Said recurvate portions are recurved 180 andprovided with small tangent extensions 37 and 38, respectively.

The other ends of said barlike body portions terminate in upstandingtail portions 39 and 41, see FIGS. 1, 2 and 9, hav-- respectively.Said'upwardly curved seats also serve as abutto a back hoe inparticular, Pivotallymounted on the front face of said dipper stick is areciprocable bucket tilt ram means ll. Spacer link me ans I2 ispivotally connected to the free end of said hydraulic ram means II bypin 13, and to the dipper stick by pin I4. I

ments to resist any thrust or lateral pressure thereagainst by saidcollar trunnions 24 and 25.

' Said runner or saddle elements are disposed, on the top of thebucket,symmetrically-about thelongitudinal centerline, front to back, of thebucket; the rccurve'd portions of said saddle elements being disposed atthefront or open face of the bucket.

Reinforcing plates 46 and 47, see FIGS 4 and 5, are welded to the outerfaces of saddle elements 33 and 34 to strengthen the book ends 35 and36, respectively.

Said reinforcing plates are further buttressed by means of gussetbrackets 48 and 49, and 51 and 52, at the outer faces of said plates,respectively, and secured to the top of said bucket and to saidreinforcing plates as by welding.

A lock bar, generally indicated at 53, see FIGS. 9 and 10, is providedto link, lock, or join the yoke to the saddle means and thereby couplethe bucket to the dipper stick.

Said lock bar is slightly wedge shaped, as by inclined surface 54, andis seatably received, sidewise or laterally, see FlGS. l and 4, incorresponding and oppositely disposed slots 55 and 56 in the tail endedge portions of saddle elements 33 and 34, respectively, said slotsbeing laterally aligned and in registry when the yoke is fully seated inthe saddle means as hereinafter described.

Said lock bar is provided with a central bore 59 to receive a threadedstud 61 fixed to a crossbar 62 welded across yoke side links 19 and 21forwardly of said slots. The lock bar is drawn seated tightly in saidslots by means of nut 63 threadedly engaged with said stud.

Operation:

Assuming that an operator desires to disconnect a bucket from theexcavating machine, he rests the bucket on the ground and may support itin an upright position, such as shown in FIG. 3, by means of blocks orthe like. He then manually backs off the nut 63 from stud 61 andlaterally withdraws the lock bar 53 from slots 55, 56, and 57, 58. Thisunlocks the yoke from the saddle means.

The operator then mounts the machine and returns to his operatingstation at the machine controls.

He then manipulates the controls to actuate ram 11 upwardly, whichthrough connecting link communicates an upward rotative motion to yoke16, said yoke pivoting about pin 17. Such movement unseats collartrunnions 24 and 25 from corresponding arcuate seats 42 and 43,respectively, and otherwise raises such trunnions sufficiently to clearthe tail end portions of the saddle elements, as shown in FIG. 2.

The operator then manipulates the controls to actuate the dipper stickto withdraw the journals or collar trunnions 22 and 23 sidewise orlaterally out of engagement with cradle or hook elements 36 and 35,respectively, and further lifts the yoke upwardly to fully disengage theyoke from the saddle means and dispose it free and clear above thesaddle means as shown in FIG. 1.

To couple a bucket to the excavating machine, the above operative stepsare reversed. That is, assuming the dipper stick and yoke are poisedabove the bucket and saddle means thereon, as shown in FIG. 1, theoperator then manipulates the controls to actuate ram 11 to pivot theyoke angularly upwardly and then lowers the dipper stick and moves thejournals or collar trunions 22 and 23 sidewise or laterally into seatingengagement with saddle hook elements or craddles 36 and 35,respectively, as shown in FIG. 2.

The operator then manipulates the controls to actuate the ram downwardlywhich causes collar trunnions 24 and 25 to seat on corresponding arcuateseats 42 and 43, respectively. In the event such trunnions initiallyengage the tangent extensions 44 and 45, such engagement and downwardmovement tends to force and cam the collar trunnions 22 and 23positively into their associated hook elements 36 and 35, respectively,and guide trunnions 24 and 25 into their associated seats.

The lock bar 53 is then manually inserted onto stud 61, and advancedlaterally into aligned and registered slots 55, 56 and 57, 58 and drawntightly therein by means of nut 63, thereby coupling and locking thebucket on the dipper stick.

Among the novel features of this invention is the provision of a couplermeans for quick-connecting a bucket to a dipper stick of an excavatingmachine said coupler comprising a frame or yoke means on said dipperstick directly superimposable and seatable from above on saddle meansmounted on said bucket, said yoke and saddle means being locked togetherby a lock bar operatively movable sidewise and laterally of said couplermeans.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention arepossible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to beunderstood, that within the scope of the appended claims, the inventionmay be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

lclaim:

1. In a backhoe excavating machine having-a dipper stick, a bucket, andcoupling means for coupling said bucket to said dipper stick, saidcoupling means including yoke means mounted on the lower end portion ofsaid dipper stick and complementary saddle means mounted on the top sideof said bucket, said coupling means comprising:

a. a first yoke pin mounted on and disposed transversely across thelower end portion of said dipper stick, said first yoke pin extendingbeyond the side faces of said dipper stick;

b. side links pivotally mounted on said first yoke pin exten sions,respectively, said side links being spaced from the ends of said firstyoke pin thereby defining first pin free end portions, and said sidelinks being normally disposed substantially at right angle to saiddipper stick and extending forwardly thereof;

. first collar trunions on said first pin free end portions,

respectively;

d. means for fixing said first collar trunnions on the adjacent faces ofsaid side links, respectively;

a second yoke pin mounted on and across the free end portions of saidside links, said second yoke pin being disposed parallel to said firstyoke pin, and said second yoke pin extending beyond the side faces ofsaid side links thereby defining second pin free end portions;

f. second collar trunions on said second pin free end portions,respectively;

g. means for fixing said second collar trunions on the adjacent faces ofsaid side links, respectively;

h. first oppositely disposed slots in the end edge portions of said freeend portions of said side links, respectively, for laterally receiving alock bar;

i. cross-brace means for rigidly interconnecting said side links;

j. control link means pivotally mounted, at one end, on said second yokepin, intermediate said side links, and extending normally upwardly andsubstantially parallel to said dipper stick;

k. spacer link means pivotally interconnecting the free end portion ofsaid control link means and said dipper stick, said spacer link beingnormally substantially at right angle to said dipper stick;

1. ram means on said dipper stick pivotally connected to said controllink for actuating said control link;

in. a pair of similar spaced parallel saddle elements mountedlongitudinally on the top side of said bucket, said saddle elementshaving barlike central body portions terminating at one end inupstanding oppositely disposed substantially 180 recurved hook ends toreceive and snugly seat said first collar trunnions, respectively, saidhook ends being disposed at the open end of the rearwardly facingbucket, and the other end of said barlike central body portionsterminating in substantially upwardly curved seats to snugly receivesaid second collar trunnions, respectively, when said first collartrunnions are operatively seated in said hook ends, said 90 curved seatsbeing formed in upstanding tail portions extending from said barlikebody portions, respectively, and said saddle elements being spaced aparta distance to receive said side links therebetween in a working fit;

n. second oppositely disposed slots in the end edge portions of saidtail portions for laterally receiving a lock bar, said slots beingdisposed aligned with said first slots when said first and second collartrunnions are operatively seated in said hook ends and 90 upwardlycurved seats, respectiveo. a lock bar received in said first and secondslots when said slots are operatively aligned; and

p. means for securing said lock bar in said aligned slots.

2. In an excavating machine having a dipper stick, a bucket, andcoupling means for coupling said bucket to said dipper stick, saidcoupling means including yoke means mounted on the lower end portion ofsaid dipper stick and complementary saddle means mounted on the top sideof said bucket, said coupling means comprising:

a. a first yoke pin means mounted on and disposed laterally of the lowerend portion of said dipper stick, said pin means extending outwardly ofthe sides of said dipper stick thereby defining first yoke trunnions;

b. side link means pivotally mounted on said first yoke pin means, saidsidelink means being normally disposed substantially at right angle tosaid dipper stick;

c. first slot means in the free end edge portions of said side linkmeans for receiving a lock bar sidewise therein;

d. second yoke pin means mounted on the free end portion of said sidelink means and being disposed parallel to said first yoke pin means,said second yoke pin means extending outwardly of the sides of said sidelink means thereby defining second yoke trunnions; v

e. control link means pivotally mounted on said second yoke pin meansand normally extending upwardly therefrom;

f. spacer link means pivotally interconnecting the free end portion ofsaid control link means and said dipper stick, said spacer link meansbeing disposed upwardly of said side link' means;

g. drive means connected to said control linkfor actuating said controllink; l

h. saddle means mounted longitudinally on the top side of said bucket,said saddle means having central body means terminating at one endin apairof spaced upstanding oppositely disposed substantially, 180recurvedhook ends for receiving and seating said first yoke trunnions,respectively, and the other end of said central body means terminatingin a pair of spaced upstanding oppositely disposed substantially 90upwardly curved seats to receive said second yoke trunnions,respectively, when said first yoke trunnions are operatively seated insaid hook ends, said 90 curved seats being formed in tail portionsextending from said central body means;

i. second slot means in the end edge portions of said tail portions forreceiving a lock bar sidewise therein, said second slot means beingdisposed aligned with said first slot means when said first and secondyoke trunnions are operatively seated in said hook ends and 90 curvedseats,

respectively;

j. a lock bar received in said first and second slot means when saidslot-means are operatively aligned; and

k. means for securing said lock bar in said aligned slots.

3. In an excavating machine having a dipper stick, a bucket, andcoupling means for coupling said bucket to said dipper stick, saidcoupling means including yoke-means mounted on the lower end portion ofsaid dipper stick and complementary saddle means mounted on the top ofsaid bucket, said coupling means comprising: 7

a. a first yoke pin means mounted on and disposed laterally of the lowerend portion of said dipper stick, said first pin means having firstjournal means thereon;

b. side link means pivotally mounted on said first yoke pin means, saidside link means being normally disposed sub.- stantially at right angleto said dipper stick;

c. first slot means in the free end edge portions of said side linkmeans for receiving a lock bar therein;

. second yoke pin means mounted on the free end portion of said sidelink means and being disposed parallel to said first yoke pin means,said second yoke pin means having second journal means thereon;

e. control link means pivotally mounted on said second yoke pin meansand nonnally extending upwardly therefrom;

spacer link means pivotally interconnecting the free end portion of saidcontrol link means and said dipper stick,

said spacer link being-disposed upwardly of said side link means; 1

g. drive means for actuating said control link;

h.saddle means mounted on the top side of said bucket, said saddle meanshaving central body means terminating at one end in upstanding hookmeans for receiving and snugly seating said first journal means, saidhook means being recurved between and and the other end of said centralbody meanstermin ating in an upwardly operatively seated in said hookmeans and curved seat,

respectively;

. j. a lock bar received in said first and second slot means 'when saidslots are aligned; and I k. means for securing said lock bar in saidaligned slots.

4. In an excavating machine having a dipper stick, a bucket. andcoupling means for coupling said bucket to said dipper stick, saidcoupling means including yoke means mounted on the lower end portion ofsaid dipper stick and complementary saddle means mounted on the top ofsaid bucket, said coupling means comprising:

a. a first; yoke pin means mounted on and disposed laterally of thelower end portion of said .dipper stick, said first pin means havingjournal means thereon;

b. side link means pivotally mounted on said first yoke pin means, saidside link means normally extending substantially laterally of saiddipper stick;

c. first slot means in the free end portions of said sidelink means forreceiving a lock bar therein;

d. second yoke pin means mounted on the free end portion of said sidelink means and being disposed parallel to said first yoke pin means;

e. control link means pivotally mounted on said second yoke pin meansand normally extending upwardly one end in upstanding recurved hookmeans for laterally receiving and snugly seating said journal, and theother end portion of said central body means having seat means toreceive and seat said second yoke pin means when said journal means isoperatively seated in said hook means said seat means including abutmentmeans engageable with said second yoke pin means to resist lateralpressure by said second yoke pin means;

i. second slot means in the end portion of said other end of saidcentral body means, said second slot means being disposed aligned withsaid first slot means when said journal and second yoke pin means areoperatively seated in said hook means and on said central body means,respectively;

j. a lock bar received in said first and second slot means when saidslots are aligned; and

k. means for securing said lock bar in said aligned slots.

5; In an excavating machine having a dipper stick, a bucket, andcoupling means for coupling said bucket to said dipper stick, saidcoupling means including yoke means mounted on the lower end portion ofsaid dipper stick and complementary saddle means mounted on the top ofsaid bucket, said coupling means comprising:

a. a first yoke pin means mounted on and disposed laterally of the lowerend portion of said dipper stick, said first pin means having journalmeans thereon;

f. drive means for actuating said control link;

g. saddle means mounted on the top side ofsaid bucket, said saddle meanshaving central body means terminating at one end in upstanding recurvedhook means, for receiving and snugly seating said j ournal means, andthe other end portion of said central body means having seat means toreceive said second yoke pin means when said journal means isoperatively seated in "said hook means; and

h. means for rigidly connecting said side link means and saddle meanswhen said journal means and second yoke pin means are operatively seatedinsaid hook means and on said seat means, respectively.

1. In a backhoe excavating machine having a dipper stick, a bucket, andcoupling means for coupling said bucket to said dipper stick, saidcoupling means including yoke means mounted on the lower end portion ofsaid dipper stick and complementary saddle means mounted on the top sideof said bucket, said coupling means comprising: a. a first yoke pinmounted on and disposed transversely across the lower end portion ofsaid dipper stick, said first yoke pin extending beyond the side facesof said dipper stick; b. side links pivotally mounted on said first yokepin extensions, respectively, said side links being spaced from the endsof said first yoke pin thereby defining first pin free end portions, andsaid side links being normally disposed substantially at right angle tosaid dipper stick and extending forwardly thereof; c. first collartrunions on said first pin free end portions, respectively; d. means forfixing said first collar trunnions on the adjacent faces of said sidelinks, respectively; e. a second yoke pin mounted on and across the freeend portions of said side links, said second yoke pin being disposedparallel to said first yoke pin, and said second yoke pin extendingbeyond the side faces of said side links thereby defining second pinfree end portions; f. second collar trunions on said second pin free endportions, respectively; g. means for fixing said second collar trunionson the adjacent faces of said side links, respectively; h. firstoppositely disposed slots in the end edge portions of said free endportions of said side links, respectively, for laterally receiving alock bar; i. cross-brace means for rigidly interconnecting said sidelinks; j. control link means pivotally mounted, at one end, on saidsecond yoke pin, intermediate said side links, and extending normallyupwardly and substantially parallel to said dipper stick; k. spacer linkmeans pivotally interconnecting the free end portion of said controllink means and said dipper stick, said spacer link being normallysubstantially at right angle to said dipper stick; l. ram means on saiddipper stick pivotally connected to said control link for actuating saidcontrol link; m. a pair of similar spaced parallel saddle elementsmounted longitudinally on the top side of said bucket, said saddleelements having barlike central body portions terminating at one end inupstanding oppositely disposed substantially 180* recurved hook ends toreceive and snugly seat said first collar trunnions, respectively, saidhook ends being disposed at the open end of the rearwardly facingbucket, and the other end of said barlike central body portionsterminating in substantially 90* upwardly curved seats to snugly receivesaid second collar trunnions, respectively, when said first collartrunnions are operatively seated in said hook ends, said 90* curvedseats beinG formed in upstanding tail portions extending from saidbarlike body portions, respectively, and said saddle elements beingspaced apart a distance to receive said side links therebetween in aworking fit; n. second oppositely disposed slots in the end edgeportions of said tail portions for laterally receiving a lock bar, saidslots being disposed aligned with said first slots when said first andsecond collar trunnions are operatively seated in said hook ends and 90*upwardly curved seats, respectively; o. a lock bar received in saidfirst and second slots when said slots are operatively aligned; and p.means for securing said lock bar in said aligned slots.
 2. In anexcavating machine having a dipper stick, a bucket, and coupling meansfor coupling said bucket to said dipper stick, said coupling meansincluding yoke means mounted on the lower end portion of said dipperstick and complementary saddle means mounted on the top side of saidbucket, said coupling means comprising: a. a first yoke pin meansmounted on and disposed laterally of the lower end portion of saiddipper stick, said pin means extending outwardly of the sides of saiddipper stick thereby defining first yoke trunnions; b. side link meanspivotally mounted on said first yoke pin means, said side link meansbeing normally disposed substantially at right angle to said dipperstick; c. first slot means in the free end edge portions of said sidelink means for receiving a lock bar sidewise therein; d. second yoke pinmeans mounted on the free end portion of said side link means and beingdisposed parallel to said first yoke pin means, said second yoke pinmeans extending outwardly of the sides of said side link means therebydefining second yoke trunnions; e. control link means pivotally mountedon said second yoke pin means and normally extending upwardly therefrom;f. spacer link means pivotally interconnecting the free end portion ofsaid control link means and said dipper stick, said spacer link meansbeing disposed upwardly of said side link means; g. drive meansconnected to said control link for actuating said control link; h.saddle means mounted longitudinally on the top side of said bucket, saidsaddle means having central body means terminating at one end in a pairof spaced upstanding oppositely disposed substantially 180* recurvedhook ends for receiving and seating said first yoke trunnions,respectively, and the other end of said central body means terminatingin a pair of spaced upstanding oppositely disposed substantially 90*upwardly curved seats to receive said second yoke trunnions,respectively, when said first yoke trunnions are operatively seated insaid hook ends, said 90* curved seats being formed in tail portionsextending from said central body means; i. second slot means in the endedge portions of said tail portions for receiving a lock bar sidewisetherein, said second slot means being disposed aligned with said firstslot means when said first and second yoke trunnions are operativelyseated in said hook ends and 90* curved seats, respectively; j. a lockbar received in said first and second slot means when said slot meansare operatively aligned; and k. means for securing said lock bar in saidaligned slots.
 3. In an excavating machine having a dipper stick, abucket, and coupling means for coupling said bucket to said dipperstick, said coupling means including yoke means mounted on the lower endportion of said dipper stick and complementary saddle means mounted onthe top of said bucket, said coupling means comprising: a. a first yokepin means mounted on and disposed laterally of the lower end portion ofsaid dipper stick, said first pin means having first journal meansthereon; b. side link means pivotally mounted on said first yoke pinmeans, said side link means being normally disposed substantially atright angle to said dipper stIck; c. first slot means in the free endedge portions of said side link means for receiving a lock bar therein;d. second yoke pin means mounted on the free end portion of said sidelink means and being disposed parallel to said first yoke pin means,said second yoke pin means having second journal means thereon; e.control link means pivotally mounted on said second yoke pin means andnormally extending upwardly therefrom; f. spacer link means pivotallyinterconnecting the free end portion of said control link means and saiddipper stick, said spacer link being disposed upwardly of said side linkmeans; g. drive means for actuating said control link; h. saddle meansmounted on the top side of said bucket, said saddle means having centralbody means terminating at one end in upstanding hook means for receivingand snugly seating said first journal means, said hook means beingrecurved between 90* and 180*, and the other end of said central bodymeans terminating in an upwardly curved seat for snugly receiving saidsecond journal means when said first journal means is operatively seatedin said hook means, said curved seat being formed in a tail portionextending from said central body means; i. second slot means in the endedge portion of said tail portion for receiving a lock bar sidewisetherein, said second slot means being disposed aligned with said firstslot means when said first and second journal means are operativelyseated in said hook means and curved seat, respectively; j. a lock barreceived in said first and second slot means when said slots arealigned; and k. means for securing said lock bar in said aligned slots.4. In an excavating machine having a dipper stick, a bucket, andcoupling means for coupling said bucket to said dipper stick, saidcoupling means including yoke means mounted on the lower end portion ofsaid dipper stick and complementary saddle means mounted on the top ofsaid bucket, said coupling means comprising: a. a first yoke pin meansmounted on and disposed laterally of the lower end portion of saiddipper stick, said first pin means having journal means thereon; b. sidelink means pivotally mounted on said first yoke pin means, said sidelink means normally extending substantially laterally of said dipperstick; c. first slot means in the free end portions of said side linkmeans for receiving a lock bar therein; d. second yoke pin means mountedon the free end portion of said side link means and being disposedparallel to said first yoke pin means; e. control link means pivotallymounted on said second yoke pin means and normally extending upwardlytherefrom; f. spacer link means pivotally interconnecting the free endportion of said control link means and said dipper stick, said spacerlink being disposed upwardly of said side link means; g. drive means foractuating said control link; h. saddle means mounted on the top side ofsaid bucket, said saddle means having central body means terminating atone end in upstanding recurved hook means for laterally receiving andsnugly seating said journal, and the other end portion of said centralbody means having seat means to receive and seat said second yoke pinmeans when said journal means is operatively seated in said hook meanssaid seat means including abutment means engageable with said secondyoke pin means to resist lateral pressure by said second yoke pin means;i. second slot means in the end portion of said other end of saidcentral body means, said second slot means being disposed aligned withsaid first slot means when said journal and second yoke pin means areoperatively seated in said hook means and on said central body means,respectively; j. a lock bar received in said first and second slot meanswhen said slots are aligned; and k. means for securing said lock bar insaid aligned slots.
 5. In an excavating machine having a dipper stick, abuckeT, and coupling means for coupling said bucket to said dipperstick, said coupling means including yoke means mounted on the lower endportion of said dipper stick and complementary saddle means mounted onthe top of said bucket, said coupling means comprising: a. a first yokepin means mounted on and disposed laterally of the lower end portion ofsaid dipper stick, said first pin means having journal means thereon; b.side link means pivotally mounted on said first yoke pin means, saidside link means normally extending substantially laterally of saiddipper stick; c. second yoke pin means mounted on the end portion ofsaid side link means and being disposed parallel to said first yoke pinmeans; d. control link means pivotally mounted on said second yoke pinmeans and normally extending upwardly therefrom; e. spacer link meanspivotally interconnecting the free end portion of said control linkmeans and said dipper stick, said spacer link being disposed upwardly ofsaid side link means; f. drive means for actuating said control link; g.saddle means mounted on the top side of said bucket, said saddle meanshaving central body means terminating at one end in upstanding recurvedhook means, for receiving and snugly seating said journal means, and theother end portion of said central body means having seat means toreceive said second yoke pin means when said journal means isoperatively seated in said hook means; and h. means for rigidlyconnecting said side link means and saddle means when said journal meansand second yoke pin means are operatively seated in said hook means andon said seat means, respectively.